Soho

Chapter 14: < Protect – Episode 13 – Do Kyung Ho [3] >

The things a group of men can do in Korea is limited. Men couldn’t walk down the streets holding hands, and it didn’t look favorable to hang out at a café. What about the movie theatre? It’s better to go alone than with a bunch of guys. The only thing men can do comfortably is go out for food and drinks.

“Big Bro!”

“Yo! Bro.”

The brothers resembled each other, but they were different too. If you only look at the outer appearance the four Do brothers look nothing alike. But once you start talking to them, there’s no doubt that they share the same blood.

“What’s with your clothes? Did you rejoin a gang?”

“You punk! Watch your mouth.”

“I saw you in the newspaper. Why did you have to mess with the popular ones? You probably have thousands of anti-fans.”

“Mino’s always a had a problem with his mouth. Men need to be careful with their dicks and mouths.”

“Why? What comes out of our mouth is what comedians live off of.”

“I’m just saying you’re crossing the line. And hey! Stop making fun of your family.”

“Yeah, you’re going too far. Only the oldest and the youngest had premarital pregnancies.”

“Huh? Didn’t the second oldest have one too?”

“Yeah. Honeymoon baby, my ass! Don’t lie, you bastard! You’ll get yourself in danger.”

The three married brothers formed an alliance without the single Do Min Ho, but they divided once the sensitive topic of premarital pregnancies came up. There’s no such thing as loyalty within families. If only Soo Ho wasn’t an Ahn, they would have been known as five brothers since he had a similar name.

“Soo Ho, if you lived abroad for so long, you must have dated white people and black people too.”

“Domino, shut your mouth before I make you into a pizza.”

“Shit! You’re such a middle-aged man!”

“The pizza was too much, Big Bro.”

“Cheers!”

As soon as Ahn Soo Ho raised his glass, so did everyone else.

“Since Mast succeeded too, Domino, if you get it done, we’ll have the all crown!”

“Come on! I said mine was a honeymoon baby!”

“Haha! Cheers!”

“Haha!”

Ahn Soo Ho who stopped Do Dae Ho’s defiance in Do Min Ho’s stead and started the toast again.

“Cheers to an all crown!”

“Cheers!”

Since it was already rowdy inside, it didn’t matter if they cheered or beat each other up. Do Min Ho’s fans who went up to him for autographs and pictures gave them more enjoyment. Once there’s enough alcohol in their system, everything becomes fun. The alcohol they consumed with good people were not only sweet but good for the body too.

Once the brothers finished the first round, they headed to a nice bar with expensive alcohol for the second round. It wasn’t an unfamiliar place for Do Kyung Ho who went around with stiff shoulders and Do Min Ho who was a successful comedian, but Do Dae Ho who had only tried soju and beer or Do In Ho who had only sold books with his wife looked around like country bumpkins.

“You bumpkins. Stop looking around like that.”

“Wow. Isn’t this place crazy expensive?”

“It is.”

“Is this okay, Soo Ho?”

Do Dae Ho gave Ahn Soo Ho a side glance and asked.

“Don’t worry. I’m a director of Daesan Group.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You don’t believe me? It’s true.”

“That’s ridiculous. Daesan Group is huge.”

“Ha! Soo Ho. Show him your business card.”

Do Kyung Ho asked his friend for help out of frustration, but Ahn Soo Ho ignored him and talked to the bartender.

“Recommend these guys some drinks that suit their looks.”

“Sure. The regular for you?”

“Of course.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

The white man’s fluent Korean accent surprised the four brothers. Among them, Do In Ho was the only one who could speak foreign languages.

“Wow! You’re very fluent for a foreigner.”

“My name is Soo Chan. Ahn Soo Chan.”

“Ahn Soo Chan?”

As soon as Do Kyung Ho took turns looking at him and the bartender, Ahn Soo Ho smirked.

“He can pick whatever name he wants.”

“Oh. I thought he was super global.”

“Him? His foreign face would make anyone freeze up.”

Cocktails had a different flavor than soju and beer, which people only drink to get wasted.

“How do you know about a place like this when you’re not even in Korea that often?”

“Because it’s my bar.”

“Pfft!”

“Hey, that’s dirty.”

“Your bar?”

“Well, it’s registered under someone else’s name, but it’s still mine.”

The second oldest bumpkin and the youngest bumpkin thought the same thing.

“Tax evasion.”

“Tax evasion.”

It’s possible that Mast might report it to the National Tax Service in order to get a reward. It’s not easy raising a child these days. You mustn’t say you understand the feeling of being the head of a family if you’ve never been one before.

Ahn Soo Chan opened his mouth to help.

“He donates all of his net profits.”

“How much is it?”

“Around eight billion a year?”

“Pfft!”

“Ugh, you dirty bastard! Cover your mouth!”

“N... not eight hundred million, but eight billion?”

Do Kyung Ho took the disregard he received from Ahn Soo Ho and returned it to him while staring at Ahn Soo Chan.

“We carry a lot of expensive alcohol for our many wealthy customers.”

“Still, how much do you have to sell to get a profit like that?”

Do Kyung Ho leaned his ear to Ahn Soo Chan’s finger gesture. After a bit of whispering, Do Kyung Ho looked at Ahn Soo Ho with loving eyes.

“Piss off, you gross bastard!”

“Soo Ho...”

As soon as the grown man clung onto him, a fist swung his way. It seemed as though the brothers had the least class in the bar. Luckily, thanks to the soft lighting and alcohol, not many customers are looking this way. The youngest got startled and hit the third oldest with his elbow.

“Big Bro! Isn’t that Mi Na? Kang Mi Na.”

“You’re embarrassing me. Is this your first time seeing a celebrity?”

There were quite a few famous people at the bar. It was similar to a social gathering of the elite.

“I see the bumpkins are enjoying themselves... but why did you call us here?”

Do Kyung Ho, who was throwing a fuss, calmed down and looked at his friend. He’s not a total roundworm, but he’s not a good friend either. He didn’t believe that this meeting was an impulsive decision. Ahn Soo Ho finished his cocktail and smirked.

“Take a good look. You might have to deal with them from now on.”

“Are you planning to set us up with bars like this?”

“If you want.”

“Hey!”

Do Kyung Ho showed a straight face. The other brothers also frowned instead of smiling, which made Ahn Soo Ho feel sad. Is this why they can never become five brothers?

“Do you think of this as charity? If you really thought of me as family, you wouldn’t have interpreted my kindness as cheap. Aren’t you being more careful because we’re not family?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“Hey, I’m not mad. I’m saying that’s a given. In any case, we’re not a real family.”

“Who says we’re not a family? You?”

“Hey, why are you pointing at me? I think of Soo Ho as my real brother!”

“Then you?”

“What are you talking about? I love Soo Ho.”

Do Kyung Ho made shameless remarks out of embarrassment, and the three brothers showed a fussy response. In contrast to Do Kyung Ho, who seemed to want to apologize, Ahn Soo Ho looked serious.

“Think about it carefully, Kyung Ho. Your past will catch up with you one day.”

“Ahn Soo Ho! Don’t cross the line.”

The uneasy atmosphere made the brothers uncertain if the alcohol was going in through their mouths or nostrils. Ahn Soo Ho and Do Kyung Ho was as close as real brothers. However, Do Kyung Ho had a secret inferiority complex about Ahn Soo Ho. Actually, only Do Kyung Ho thinks his inferiority complex is a secret.

“I’ll take care of my own matters.”

“I’m not worrying about you. I’m worrying about Hye Jung and the kids. I know you’ll be fine... but what about your family?”

“Hey!”

Do Kyung Ho’s frown turned evil. Regardless, Ahn Soo Ho has no interest in stopping.

“Do really believe your past can be erased? If that’s what you think, you’ll be disappointed.”

“It’s been seven years. Nothing has happened for seven years, and it never will.”

“I heard Park Sang Goo is the boss now.”

“Hm.”

Do Kyung Ho took a deep breath.

“When it comes to people, kindness can be forgotten easily, but resentment goes on for ten to twenty years.”

Ahn Soo Ho knew of Do Kyung Ho’s inferiority complex. He could be more than half responsible for why he started using his fists. That’s why he did everything he could to get him out of there.

“He’ll come looking for you. I guarantee it.”

Do Kyung Ho clenched his fists to what Ahn Soo Ho said. His shoulders are moving up and down from his harsh breathing. Who is he mad at? Ahn Soo Ho? Or Park Sang Goo? It’s neither. He’s mad at himself. Do Dae Ho and Do In Ho followed Do Kyung Ho as he turned around without a word.

“Aren’t you going?”

“I’m going to stay and comfort you.”

Ahn Soo Ho smirked at Do Min Ho’s cheeky response.

“Do you think I went overboard?”

“No.”

Do Min Ho had heard things too.

Even though he’s nine years younger, he ends up hearing the name, Do Kyung Ho quite often when he does shows. He was pretty legendary in that field. He wasn’t like a lynx and took on 40 on his own, but he was able to take around fifteen or so. There was no such thing as a good mob. Everything they do is painful for everyone else.

“But who’s Park Sang Goo?”

“Have you heard of Chilsungpa?”

“Oh, what was it again? Oh yeah! Lob Ears. Was that Kyung Ho?”

Do Min Ho frowned and then clapped his hands.

“Do you know what Kyung Ho’s nickname was over ten years ago?”

“Hm. One-Punch Three?”

“That’s only what he said it was.”

Ahn Soo Ho and Do Kyung Ho were avid lovers of art.

“Ear Tray.”

“Ear Tray? They didn’t get that from ‘ashtray’, did they?”

“You’re right.”

“Wow! Crazy middle-aged men.”

Do Min Ho shook his head as if he didn’t want to believe it. Van Gogh should really thank them. Thanks to their passion for art, even the worst pieces of trash will remember him.

“When he was in his twenties, he went around collecting ears instead of fingers.”

“I’ve heard.”

The entertainment world and gangsters are still inseparable. There isn’t as much exploitation or repression involved, but reality hit the many Class C’s, who are not Class B’s, let alone Class A’s and went into prostitution which paid well. This worked the other way, and a fair number advanced into the major leagues.

“I know all about it. I know quite a few celebrities who used to be in prostitution.”

“What about Dae Ho or In Ho?”

“Dae Ho knows too, but no good will come out of In Ho finding out.”

For Do In Ho, who’d work in law one day, his big brother’s past could have gotten in the way. The Do brothers knew that. Do Min Ho understood what Ahn Soo Ho meant when he said their pasts would catch up with them one day.”

“Kyung Ho’s a new man now, but that doesn’t mean he erased his past completely, but Kyung Ho really did his best. That’s for sure.”

But it doesn’t look like Do Kyung Ho’s past has any interest in letting him go.

“Soo Ho, you have to help him.”

“Of course.”

Ahn Soo Ho messed up Do Min Ho’s hair.

“Ugh, seriously! I’m going to be thirty the day after tomorrow!”

“You son of a bitch. You’ll always be a crybaby to Kyung Ho and me.”

“Damn it!”

Do Min Ho mumbled to himself, but still raised his glass as soon as Ahn Soo Ho did so.

“To Kyung Ho.”

“To Kyung Ho.”

That was their last glass. Ahn Soo Ho, who sent Do Min Ho home with a manager, was left alone. Actually, there was a doll beside him that made him scared to be alone.

“Why are you playing the victim, Mister?”

Jang Seol Hyun sat down, and the bartender gave her her favorite without a word. Ahn Soo Ho twirled the empty glass. When Ahn Soo Chan asked if he wanted more with his eyes, he showed him his hand.

“What’s your secret to being loved by everyone?”

“Pardon? Come on. There’s no way to be loved by everyone.”

Jang Seol Hyun showed a bland face to Ahn Soo Ho’s question.

“Not even God can be loved by everyone.”

“Not even God, huh?”

But he only wanted to be loved by the people around him. He didn’t have interest in being loved by everyone. When his phone started to vibrate, he excused himself and answered the phone.

“Soo Ho?”

“Watch the news.”

Ahn Soo Chan immediately brought out a laptop as soon as Ahn Soo Ho gestured for one with his hand. They were reporting the breaking news on public TV.

– The prosecution has started a sudden seize and search of Jinsung Group.

Jinsung Group was Kim Dae Chan’s in-laws.

“The international press has already started to report on the seize and search of Jinsung Group.”

Even though they’re both groups, their statuses are on the opposite sides of the spectrum. Their status was so low that people would wonder what company that was when they saw it on the news. Until just now, that is.

“How interesting.”

The other side behaved the way he expected. Ahn Soo Ho made it hard to attack Daesan Group, so Jinsung Group went down instead.

“In what way?”

“Just wait.”

“Jinsung might go down at this rate!”

Kim Dae Chan impatiently talked back. Ahn Soo Ho didn’t have a contract with Jinsung Group, so he didn’t have much interest, but there was no need to ruin his mood by saying anything unnecessary.

“It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Just trust me.”

It’s time to wait.

< Protect – Episode 13 – Do Kyung Ho [3] > The end.

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